Monday last (Aug. 9th 2010)Youghal native, Jim Horgan, returned to his hometown to embark on a boat-building initiative in conjunction with Youghal Town Council, Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group and SECAD. Report: Becky Grice | Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

And he’s not planning on building it alone. This modern-day Noah is hoping that the people of Youghal will come out and help him create ‘A Yawl for Youghal’ – a two-masted sailing craft similar to a sloop or cutter, but with an additional mizzen mast well aft of the main mast, often right on the transom.
The boat-building will begin this coming Monday, August 9th, at Tynte’s Castle on Youghal’s North Main Street at around 2pm, and anyone and everyone is welcome to come along and help with the building process. For those who want to really enjoy the ‘hands on’ approach, Jim is offering people the chance to sign up for daily building sessions, from 6pm onwards, at a total cost of €50 for 2 weeks, or until the boat is finished.

The yawl was originally developed as a rig for commercial fishing boats and, in its heyday, the rig was particularly popular with single-handed sailors, such as circumnavigators Harry Pidgeon and Francis Chichester.
Within a historical context, the 1928 Webster’s dictionary defined a yawl as ‘a small ships boat, usually rowed by four or six oars’ and the seminal American yacht designer, Francis Herreshoff reflected this traditional definition of a yawl.

But modern self-steering and navigation aids have made the yawl’s ability to be trimmed to sail without rudder input less important, and the yawl has, sadly, generally fallen out of favour.
Cllr. Barbara Murray, a member of the Youghal Boat Building Committee, who was instrumental in getting this project off the ground and into the water, so to speak, picks up the story.
‘The Horgan family are incredibly well-known in Youghal,’ Barbara enthuses, ‘so when Jim came to me with this idea a while ago, it seemed like a fantastic option for the town. Sadly – to use a fishing metaphor – no one was biting, so I decided to take on the project myself and, with a core group of interested individuals, the Boat Building Project began to take shape.’
But Barbara was going to run aground with the project several times before it reached fruition, having to fill in SECAD funding application forms (‘It was a case of third time’s the charm!’) before finding out, just last Thursday, that funding had been granted.

‘It was then a case of all hands on deck,’ Barbara continues, ‘Jim is coming down early to get everything organised, and we’re hoping to have a core group of 8-10 boat builders who sign up for the ongoing project.’
Jim, who now lives in Galway, has boat building in his blood. Widely recognised as almost single-handedly reviving the tradition of boat building in Co. Galway, Jim’s passion for this ‘old tradition’ is self-evident, declaring Youghal as ‘very much a boating town,’ a fact that Cllr. Murray wholeheartedly agrees with.
‘We’ve two key things in Youghal,’ she states, ‘our beaches and our heritage – and we have to take care of both of them as if they were babies. They’re precious and uniquely ours. It would be such a shame if the “old ways” died out, and it’s people like Jim who are keeping them very much alive.’
Building a yawl in Youghal may have been just a clever marketing ploy, but there’s more to it than that, as Barbara explains, ‘In days gone by, over 1,000 salmon would be fished in Youghal every week – most of them brought in on yawls. Albert Muckley’s daughter has completed her thesis on the maritime geography of the town and it is, quite frankly, stunning. Why wouldn’t we keep this tradition alive?’
As part of the Youghal Boat Building Project, noted maritime historians and boat builders will visit the town, giving talks on their particular areas of expertise and about maritime history in general. Jim himself will give two talks at Youghal Library (not, as previously specified three talks) taking place on Thursday, August 12th and the following Thursday, August 19th – both at 6pm.
On the first Thursday night, marine archaeologist Darina Tully will be present and will talk about the traditional boats of Ireland. Discussions will then be led by Liam Coveney, local fishermen and river fishermen and will be of particular relevance to anyone with an interest in the history of Youghal and the Blackwater River. The following Thursday night, noted author and marine historian Niall O’Brien will be the main guest speaker. Entrance is free and all are welcome to attend.

The Youghal Boat Building committee consists of those with an interest in Youghal’s maritime history, including Patrick & Christy Buttimer (whose family were boat builders in the town) and members of the Horgan family including Tommy Collins, CRY, and it truly is a passion project for all involved.
‘It’s going to be fun and informative,’ Barbara states, ‘Jim will be using all the old boat building methods, so people will be able to watch the timber being steamed and carved and it will definitely evoke memories of times gone by.’
Many discussions have taken place about what will happen when the boat is completed, hopefully in time for Youghal’s Medieval Festival in mid-August: Will it be used? Will it be displayed? And, if so, where?
Cllr. Murray tells the East Cork Journal, ‘We already have a large collection of maritime memorabilia in Youghal at the moment, including fishing nets, barrels and nautical aids. It is hoped to add this boat to the collection, and to exhibit it on special occasions and, when possible – if Youghal can create its own maritime museum – to make it a permanent fixture there.’
This isn’t the first time that a project such as this has been attempted (with others taking place in Cappoquin and even in a Galway Shopping Centre), but what makes the Youghal Boat Building Project different is the timeframe and the invitition for anyone to participate.
‘Previously, these schemes can take up to 3 months to complete,’ Barbara admits, ‘but with enough people helping, we’re confident that Youghal’s yawl can be completed in two weeks. Actually, I think it will take three, but Jim’s convinced it will take a fortnight – and he’s the expert!’
The nautical expression ‘sailing close to the wind’ springs to mind…
Regardless of all that, the Youghal Boat Building Project is set to bring a smile to the faces of many who were involved with ‘a life on the ocean wave’ in the town, and is the perfect opportunity to introduce a new generation (who think that ‘ketch’ is just short for ketchup) to a bygone era where hands, not computers, shaped the world.
‘We have to collect history, before it’s lost forever,’ Barbara implores, ‘This way people can literally make history – and that‘s not something you get to do every day.’
So, if you feel like contributing to Youghal’s Boat Building Project, jump on board.
There’s no cost to take part on a daily basis, but if you’d like to be part of the core group or would like further information, please contact Barbara at 087 2854971.
And remember, get involved before it’s too late… don’t miss the boat.